Freeze damage proof water tap

ABSTRACT

An elongated pipe member having a distal end, an opposite end, and an axial direction of water flow, at least one tap member adapted to allow water to leave the pipe member, a valve member attached at the distal end of the pipe member to allow and cut-off water flow through the at least one tap member, and an accumulator means attached to an attachment receiver attached to the pipe member at a position in between the distal end and the opposite end, wherein the accumulator means extends perpendicularly upwards from the axial direction of the pipe member, and is configured such that water flowing through the water tap can also flow upwards into the accumulator means, such that when the water in the pipe member begins to freeze and expand.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to faucets and taps but more particularly to a tap that prevents freezing water from damaging pipes and taps assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pipe damage due to freezing is quite common in cold regions. It often occurs when an exterior tap connects with a pipe located inside the house. Traditionally, a valve located deep inside a building shuts off water and the exterior tap is left open so as to drain water. With no water, no freezing. However, a special exterior tap was developed which has a deep shaft which reaches a spigot located deep inside a building, thus eliminating the interior valve. In this manner, there is no need to remember to shut off the interior valve and open up the exterior tap comes late fall. The problem with such exterior taps is that quite often, people leave garden hoses connected to the tap and as such, water cannot drain. Although a garden hose can absorb the expansion of ice within, the metal pipe that forms part of the exterior tap assembly may burst. Since that pipe segment is located inside the building, water damage is likely to occur. Most prior art describe systems to prevent water hammer pulse but this invention is not a water hammer. There has to be a better way to provide for a freeze damage proof solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:

To provide for a for a freeze damage proof tap assembly.

In order to do so, the invention consists in an elongated pipe member having a distal end, an opposite end, and an axial direction of water flow, at least one tap member adapted to allow water to leave the pipe member, a valve member attached at the distal end of the pipe member to allow and cut-off water flow through the at least one tap member, and an accumulator means attached to an attachment receiver attached to the pipe member at a position in between the distal end and the opposite end, wherein the accumulator means extends from the pipe member, and is configured such that water flowing through the water tap can also flow into the accumulator means, such that when the water in the pipe member begins to freeze and expand, the accumulator means allows the expanding water more volume to expand into thereby alleviating any extra pressure on the interior walls of the water tap, and thereby avoiding any damage thereto.

The freeze damage proof water tap further comprises an attachment bracket member attached to an exterior wall of the pipe member in between the distal end and the opposite end, the attachment bracket member adapted to securely attach to an exterior wall of a structure.

The freeze damage proof water tap has the attachment bracket member adapted to securely attach the water tap to an exterior wall of a structure at an angle that allows water to flow towards the valve member.

The freeze damage proof water tap has a safety pressure valve attached to a distal end portion of the accumulator opposite the end attached to the pipe member, and is adapted to allow any excess pressure within the water tap to be released therefrom.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 Isometric view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 Isometric view of a first embodiment.

FIGS. 3 a-b Top and side views, respectively, the first embodiment.

FIGS. 4 a-b Top and side views, respectively, of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 Side view of the invention in context.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A freeze damage proof water tap (10) consists in a long pipe (12) or elongated pipe member and an accumulator (14) threadably connected to an attachment receiver (15) which is itself forming an integral part extending from the long pipe (12). The accumulator (14) can be of any shape and type and allows passage of water or ice from the main pipe for expansion purposes.

The parts located inside the long pipe (12) are similar to those found in taps of the prior art. That is the valve (not shown) is located at the opposite end of the long pipe (12), inside a building so as to keep water from freezing. There is also an attachment bracket (16) to secure the water tap (10) to an exterior wall (18).

As shown in FIG. 5, the water tap (10) is installed at an angle just like taps of the prior art.

When a user installs the freeze damage proof water tap (10), he installs it in the same manner that an exterior tap of the prior art is installed but with the addition of threading the accumulator (14) to the attachment receiver (15) as a final step. Threading the accumulator is like threading any pipe and is a method well known in the art of pipe threading and need not be further discussed herein.

In a second embodiment, the accumulator (14) can be capped or entirely replaced with a safety pressure valve (20) which can be of any shape and type and functions like the safety valves found on hot water tanks so that any excess pressure within the water tap can be released. The method of assembly is similar to that discussed hereinabove.

In yet another embodiment, the freeze damage proof water tap (10) can have the accumulator (14) theadably attached to a saddle (not shown) mounted onto the long pipe (12). The method of assembly is similar to that discussed hereinabove.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1.) A freeze damage proof water tap comprising an elongated pipe member having a distal end, an opposite end, and an axial direction of water flow; at least one tap member adapted to allow water to leave said pipe member, a valve member attached at said distal end of said pipe member to allow and cut-off water flow through said at least one tap member; and an accumulator attached to an attachment receiver and said attachment receiver connected to said pipe member at a position in between said distal end and said opposite end, wherein said accumulator extends from the axial direction of said pipe member, and is configured such that water flowing through said water tap can also flow into said accumulator, such that when the water in said pipe member begins to freeze and expand, the accumulator allows the expanding water more volume to expand into thereby alleviating any extra pressure on the interior walls of said water tap, and thereby avoiding any damage thereto. 2.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 1, further comprising an attachment bracket member attached to an exterior wall of said pipe member in between said distal end and said opposite end, said attachment bracket member adapted to securely attach to an exterior wall of a structure. 3.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 2, wherein said attachment bracket member is adapted to securely attach said water tap to an exterior wall of a structure at an angle that allows water to flow towards said valve member. 4.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 1, further comprising a safety pressure valve attached to a distal end portion of said accumulator opposite said end attached to said pipe member, and is adapted to allow any excess pressure within said water tap to be released therefrom. 5.) A freeze damage proof water tap comprising an elongated pipe member having a distal end, an opposite end, and an axial direction of water flow; at least one tap member adapted to allow water to leave said pipe member, a valve member attached at said distal end of said pipe member to allow and cut-off water flow through said at least one tap member; and accumulating means attached to an attachment receiver and said attachment receiver connected to said pipe member at a position in between said distal end and said opposite end, wherein said accumulating means extends from the axial direction of said pipe member, and functions such that water flowing through said water tap can also flow into said accumulating means, such that when the water in said pipe member begins to freeze and expand, the accumulating means allows the expanding water more volume to expand into thereby alleviating any extra pressure on the interior walls of said water tap, and thereby avoiding any damage thereto. 6.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 5, wherein said accumulating means consists of a pipe member having an attachment portion on a distal end adapted to attach to an attachment receiver located on said pipe member, such that said accumulating means pipe member can be securely attached and removed from said elongated pipe member. 7.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 5, wherein said accumulating means consists of a safety pressure valve having an attachment portion on a distal end adapted to attach to an attachment receiver located on said pipe member, such that said accumulating means pipe member can be securely attached and removed from said elongated pipe member. 8.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 5, further comprising an attachment bracket member attached to an exterior wall of said pipe member in between said distal end and said opposite end, said attachment bracket member adapted to securely attach to an exterior wall of a structure. 9.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 8, wherein said attachment bracket member is adapted to securely attach said water tap to an exterior wall of a structure at an angle that allows water to flow towards said valve member. 10.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 1 wherein the attachment receiver consists in a saddle mount. 11.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 1 wherein the method of installation consists in the steps of installing said freeze damage proof water tap in a manner similar to that of an exterior tap of the prior art but with the addition of threading said accumulator to said attachment receiver as final step. 12.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 7 wherein the method of installation consists in the steps of installing said freeze damage proof water tap in a manner similar to that of an exterior tap of the prior art but with the addition of threading said safety pressure valve to said attachment receiver as final step. 13.) The freeze damage proof water tap of claim 10 wherein the method of installation consists in the steps of installing the freeze damage proof water tap in a manner similar to that of an exterior tap of the prior art but with the addition of threading said accumulator to said saddle as final step. 